Hi Tweeters,

This morning the Madrone, in our back yard across from Rodgers Park on
Queen Anne Hill, had an exciting assortment of birds. A flock of
Western Tanagers appeared about 7:00 AM. A female Black-headed
Grosbeak appeared at the feeder below the tree. Then a large group of
Cedar Wax wings appeared foraging among the flowers, In the meantime
both male and female Wilson?s Warblers were feeding, especially in the
dead branches. A flock of Bushtits joined the warblers. Occasionally
both sexes of House Finches, Stellar?s Jays, American Robins and Common
Crows flew into the Madrone.

The Madrone flowers must have a high sugar content and lots of pollen
since many of these birds appear to be feeding on the flowers. We
regular see large numbers of both Rufous and Anna?s Humming birds
feeding on the flowers. Many species of insects use the flowers
including Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, Orchard Mason Bees and other
Hymenopterans, as well as many species of Lepidopterans. We generally
see Empidonax and other flycatchers feeding on these insects as well as
on the hatches of Dipterans from the two small ponds below the Madrone.
So far no swallows this year, but in past years we?ve had Violet-green
Tree and Barn Swallows attracted by the Madrone that is the host to all
of the different kinds of insect.

The clusters of red Madrone berries in the late summer, fall and winter
are the favorites of Band?tailed Pigeons, Varied Thrushes, Waxwings,
Robins, Western Tanagers and other birds migrating southward. The
berries also must have a high sugar content, since in the late fall it
is not uncommon to see birds flying somewhat erratically from eating
the fermenting fruit. Has anyone made Madrone berry jelly or wine? I
guess I?ll have to brew up a batch.

What a testimonial for native vegetation and the ecosystem that one
Madrone tree creates.

Don McVay
Queene Anne
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